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Readers' Solutions

Many things froms our daily lives can be upcycled into something useful. I have found a way to reuse plastic bottles. I have found this method is great for growing on stem cuts as they will stay moist and when the water runs out you know roots have developed.
Step 1. Cut a 2L soda bottle in the middle.
Step 2. Turn the top part upside down and... more

Over the last couple of years we’ve been renovating our cottage using as many simple and permaculture informed solutions as possible.
We have been repairing doors and windows - and to date, have not had to replace any completely.
Once the windows and doors had been stripped, repaired and brought back to life we were faced with the question “to... more

I have a wooden chalet and thought it would look nice to have my own outdoor bar at one side and have the BBQ on the other.
This project was not completed in one weekend; it took a while to collect all the bottles as I wanted them all to be of the same sort.
The lampshades are two terracotta flower pots with 3 Watt LEDs in them. It looks lovely at... more

Urine separation is an integral component of the Barrel Composting Toilet System. The recommended system for urine diversion is described below. The system consists of two basic assemblies: a urine diverter built into each barrel and a hose to transport urine to an approved drainage system.
For outdoor installations, check with your local... more

My plot had always looked unkempt due to the ‘non’ areas amongst the designed and intentional elements. Then I stumbled upon the terms ‘masses and voids’.
I realised that the solution is to design the voids; the masses take care of themselves, because they are trees or bushes or rustic duck houses or whatever, which tend to be the nice looking... more

Using your kitchen green wastes as a resource is obvious for any ecologically-minded gardener. What to do though if you don't have space for a compost bin/pile? I have tried out several solutions for homemade vermicompost.
This "cold" method of composting is perfect for the average household kitchen, as the worms will process not only the peelings... more

You'll need a shoebox - or similar - small piece of foil, small piece of white paper, and a sharp knife/scissors :-
Step 1. Cut a small hole (about 1 inch across) in one end of the shoe box, near an edge.Step 2. Tape a piece of tinfoil over the hole.Step 3. Using a pin or needle, punch a hole in the centre of the foil.Step 4. Tape a small piece of... more

It was earlier in the year with a sense of despair I wondered if I would be growing any vegetables at all this year. We were in a temporary home in Yorkshire and there was not much garden at all, just a few rose bushes and our own pots mainly filled with herbs.
Yet something shifted and my husband decided to make us some planters with some wood he... more

For several years we have been turning waste fruit from local orchards and people's homes into delicious produce such as jams, chutneys, and juices at pop-up scrumping events.
Along the way, we've had a brilliant time. Seeing people come together around food (from orchard to harvest, from production to consumption) has been a real insight into... more

The thing about farming on the small is that big machines just don't make sense, and often aren't affordable to your small, regenerative farming enterprise anyway.
And yet, once you've brought 18 beds to a fine tilth to plant your precious carrots using hand tools alone, you could be forgiven for longing for the efficiency that machines, gizmos... more

We find quite a bit of badger activity on the farm. Most common being footprints, diggings in our pasture or, as Dave calls them, 'snuffle holes' and badger paths.
We have some incredibly well worn badger paths across our pasture and it seems it doesn't matter what we do in our fields the badgers will always walk that direct same path. Why is this... more

Rocket mass heaters are an innovative cross between a rocket stove and a masonry heater.
Using a tenth less fuel that a conventional woodburner, a rocket mass heater converts the burn of hot gases that rise from the fire into heat, as well as the heat from released steam and carbon dioxide.
The rocket mass heater is an efficient and clean method... more

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